Seat cushion having helper pad and spring-over-spring strip base



1 H. C. FLINT SEAT CUSHION HAVING HELPER PAD AND SPRING-OVER-SPRINGSTRIP BASE Aug. 21, 1951 Filed April 19, 1949 Patented Aug. 21, 1951SEAT CUSHION HAVING HELPER PAD AND SPRING-OVER-SPRING STRIP BASE HylandC. Flint, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to American Metal ProductsCompany, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 19,1949, Serial No. 88,292

6 Claims.

This invention relates to spring constructions and, in particular, tospring constructions which embody a plurality of pre-arched sinuous orzigzag spring strips of the type disclosed and claimed in Kaden ReissuePatent No. 21,263.

In spring constructions of the type indicated, particularly thoseemployed as back rests, it is sometimes desirable to vary the characterand contour of the resilient surface in order to provide improvedsupport for and conformation to the human back. According to the presentinvention a direct approach to the problem is made by the use offlexible padding to build up desired areas of the resilient surface,sinuous spring elements being employed to hold the padding in place.

It is thus the object of the invention to provide a sinuous springconstruction which is especially adapted to support the human back in acomfortable manner.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustrationin the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view or front elevation of a portion of the improvedspring construction;

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, which is extended toshow the frame and the attachment of the sinuous spring strips thereto;and

Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation of a modified form of the invention.

The spring construction includes a frame I to which the upper and lowersupports 3 and 5 of the laterally spaced sinuous spring strips l aresecured by means of clips 9. The webs I I of the strips 'I form, incombination, a resilient surface which may be covered by suitable fabricand upholstery to make it soft and attractive.

The resilient surface is built up by means of ilexible padding I3 which,in Fig. 2, lies on the underside surfaces of the Webs II. The paddingmay be formed of various materials such as foamed rubber or, asillustrated, of stepped layers I5 of jute, cotton, and the like sewn ina fabric cover I1. These pads have a height which, of course, isdependent upon the extent of desired reinforcement and extend laterallyof the spring strips 1. Preferably, they are laterally spaced andslotted, as shown at I9, so as to provide room for exing and lateralexpansion.

The padding I3 is held in place by sinuous helper spring elements 2|which overlie the pads and are secured at each end by clips 23 to thewebs I I of the strips 1. The elements 2| are preferably pre-arched onan arc of lesser radius than that which they have when secured to thewebs, as indicated by the dotted contour of a free element 2I in Fig. 2prior to its nal connection to the strip l, and the elastic deformationin assembly of the elements 2| may be suiicient to reverse the contourfrom convex to concave as shown. The helper elements 2I are thus in astressed condition attempting to return to their original formation andthis serves to tightly hold the padding I3 in place as well as endow thesprings 2l themselves with a desirable resiliency. It will be recognizedthat the helper springs 2| and padding I3 will stien the resilientsurface provided by the webs I I so as to give desirable support tohuman vertebrae but are nevertheless sufficiently exible to providecomfort also.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the padding I3 is applied to the outersides of the webs II and therefore varies the contour of the resilientsurface. The helper spring elements are preformed on a relatively smallradius, as indicated by the dotted lines, and then stretched to a largerY radius on the same center by attachment to the webs II through themedium of the clips 23. In this form of the invention the padding I3 notonly increases the stiffness of the spring construction, as indicated inthe preceding embodiment, but also provides a simple means of adjustingthe contour to a desired shape.

It will be apparent that other modications may be made within the scopeof the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a spring construction, the combination of a frame, a plurality oflaterally spaced sinuous springs secured to the frame, said springshaving webs cooperating to provide a resilient surface, a pad applied tosaid surfaces, and sinuous spring elements secured at their ends to saidWebs and overlying said pad to-hold it against the webs.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pad and elements`are on the inside of the webs.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pad and elements areon the outside of the Webs.

ll. In a spring construction, the combination of a frame, a plurality oflaterally spaced sinuous springs secured to the frame, said springshaving webs cooperating to provide a resilient surface, a pad applied tosaid surface, and sinuous spring elements secured at their ends to saidwebs and overlying said pad to hold it against the webs, said sinuousspring elements being preformed on a lesser radius than that which theyhave when secured to the webs.

5. In a spring construction, the combination of a frame, a plurality oflaterally spaced sinuous springs secured to the frame, said springshaving Webs cooperating to provide a resilient surface, flexible paddingon said Webs having laterally spaced. expansion and contraction slots,and sinuous spring. elements` parallel with said Webs and securedjthereto, said padding being between the elements and Webs.

6. In `a spring construction, the combination of a frame, a plurality ofsinuous springs supported by said frame, one group of said springs beingdisposed above another group of said springs, and a pad disposed betweensaid groups of springs.

HYLAND C. FLINT.

No references cited.

